Pollock flying high

Pollock dives in an attempt to catch a sinking fly ball against the Dodgers. Stephen Dunn/Getty Images 

Last season, Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder AJ Pollock was en route to an All-Star season before taking a pitch off of his right hand. 

It was an unfortunate outcome for Pollock, to say the least. But the former Vermont Mountaineers player picked up right where he left off in 2015, becoming the first Vermont alum to earn a spot on the National League All-Star team.

After he got word Monday from Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale, Pollock’s first call was to his dad.

“He was getting on his boat and he was just as excited as I was,” Pollock, 27, said during a conference call with reporters. “I was excited about who to call and he said it’s pretty neat that a kid from a small town in Connecticut could be on an All-Star team.”

Pollock’s first-half numbers were more than enough to earn the prestigious honor. He entered Tuesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers with a .303 batting average, 10 homers and 18 steals. He is also regarded as one of the game’s better defensive center fielders.

Pollock is the first former Mountaineers player and the eighth NECBL talent to be named an All-Star. For the seventh time in the last eight years, the summer league has had representation in the MLB’s Midsummer Classic.

“It’s great for him and the Mountaineers organization,” Vermont General Manager Brian Gallagher said. “He’s done a tremendous job to have the stats he has and it’s great to see his success, especially after the injury last year. This is great news for him obviously and us as well.”

In 2007, Pollock (then a freshman at Notre Dame) hit .348 with 15 doubles and 14 steals during 37 games. He led the league in doubles, won the Christopher Ashmos 10th Player award and was named to the All-NECBL Second Team.

“He was a hard worker,” Gallagher said of Pollock’s time in Vermont. “Every time he came out, he was working hard. He won a championship that year, and it was as a part of a team that bonded well.”

Pollock spent two summers in New England, the first with the Mountaineers and the second as the MVP of the distinguished Cape Cod Baseball League. He ranked in the top five of the league in almost every offensive category for the Falmouth Commodores, posting a .377 batting average, a .455 on-base percentage and a .556 slugging percentage.

“The NECBL was one of a bunch of platforms that really helped me in getting drafted,” Pollock said. “I always run into some people from Vermont, and the next year I went to the Cape. You meet a lot of great people, and hopefully I make some people in Vermont proud that I’m going to an All-Star game.”

Pollock, a reserve outfielder, is going with teammate Paul Goldschmidt, who will be starting at first base for the second consecutive year. They were also teammates on the Double-A All-Star game, and Pollock said he’s already asked Goldschmidt countless questions.

“I’m more pumped going with him because he’s a buddy of mine,” he said. “We’ve been together for a long time coming up through the system, and I went to the Double-A All-Star game with him. It’s pretty cool.”

Pollock was selected this time around based on the players vote. During the past few weekshe crossed paths with some rival players who told him they had voted for him. In the end,his selection was even better because he knew he’d gained genuine respect and supportfrom his peers.

“These are guys you play against every day and you’re trying to beat them,” Pollock said. “And that they have that high of respect for you is pretty cool. I think getting voted in by the players is a cool thing.”

The MLB All-Star Game will take place July 14 at Great American Ballpark, the home of the Cincinnati Reds. First pitch is at 7 p.m.